Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The Rise of Nine Coming Release!

Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four,
I'd been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive.

Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we
had to separate to find the others. . . .I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member
of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of
us, but just as brave. Now we're looking for the others--including John.
But so are they.

Here at Winterhaven Books, we are so excited to get our hands on the next installment of the Lorien Legacies and meet the final members of the Garde! We have been true fans of this series since 2010 when book one first came out. The wait for each installment has been excruciating, and we can’t even begin to count the number of posts we’ve shared on predictions, developments, reactions… oh and let’s not forget our excitement to see the first book hit the big screen. That was awesome!

So, if you haven’t heard of this series yet, pull out your Sci-Fi nerd shirts and check out the first two books - I am Number Four: Lorien Legacies #1 and The Power of Six: Lorien Legacies #2. They are full of heart pounding action that just won’t quit.

If you’re already a fan of the books, here’s a little recap on the Members of the Garde before The Rise of Nine comes out.Number Four: John – Resistant to fire, telekinesis, lumen (Cepan: Henri – dead) (Lara and Liren – Four’s parents)Number Five: Will we meet Number Five in The Rise of Nine?Number Six: Maren Elizabeth – Invisibility, telekinesis, change weather (Cepan: Karatrina – dead)Number Seven: Marina – Breathe under water, telekinesis, can undo damage inflicted on those who don’t deserve it, heals others and herself, nocturnal vision (Cepan: Adeline – dead)Number Eight: Will we meet Number Eight in The Rise of Nine? Number Nine: No Name Yet – Xray vision, antigravity, superior hearing, can transfer powers (Cepan: ? – captured, assumed dead)Number Ten: Ella – Can change her age (Cepan: Crayton – alive)

There is always hope… Don’t give up hope just yet. It’s the last thing to go. When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. So when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.

The planet Lorien had been destroyed, leaving only nine young Garde and there guardians/keepers a chance to escape, survive, in hopes that they can fight again and save their race, flee to Earth.

They secretly weave among us as they slowly learn how to develop their powers, there Legacies. The Mogadorians, the ones responsible for destroying their home hunts them by order of their numbers.
It started out as a group of nine. Three killed. Six left. They won’t stop till all are destroyed. John Smith (aka Number Four) is next...

I Am Number Four is a wicked fantasy fit for any sci-fi junkie. I'm not sure if I'm into alien type books really, but I was very impressed with the concept and the theories that laces throughout the story. It's riveting, masterfully imaginative and creatively inspiring. I may not be use to these kind of books but I was hooked none the less.

Pitacus Lore's (aka James Frey & Jobie Hughes) writing is strong, driven and completely gripping. It did take me a bit to get use to the writing style since I'm not use to first-person narrative, taking the story to different paces through out the story.
Some chapters are fast paced and heart stomping, taking dramatic surrounding with vivid memories and haunting us with striking creatures and characters. Then there were the more slow moving scenes, to either gather information for the readers to keep up, or to give us a look at life around John and Henri. These chapters were both somewhat harder to get through only because I'm an impatient reader and want to get to the good stuff and also easier since I was already invested in these characters lives and wanted to see how things would play out. One thing is for certain though; each page is lined with an intense urgency that made it more compelling to keep reading to the very end.

I loved John and Henri, they have the greatest bond and I connected with them right away. There story is extremely interesting and I loved learning about the history of the planet, the training and magic of it all. Bernie Kosar is awesome.

While the storyline has more of a crucial feel to it overall, there is also some romance. These characters are only 14-16 years old, so it's not overwhelming and at times it did feel a little flat and maybe even unbelievable but it was also sweet in it's own right. I will say that I didn't like some reactions, thinking it played out a little to smoothly but that's all I'm going to say about that.

I'm looking forward to the sequel and the movie, and while I'm still not completely sure that I'm an extraterrestrial fan at this point, anyone looking for an out of this world read should get a kick out of, I Am Number Four. Bravo!

Absolutely INTENSE!! There are only six of us left. Six of us against any number of them. And no way of knowing how we might possibly find one another. We’re the only hope. Strength in numbers. The power of six...

Wow! Now this is what I call adrenaline pumping, high impact action. I felt I was on a turbo jet ride that wouldn’t stop! O.O There wasn’t one moment in this book where I let my guard down or allowed myself to settle into a false sense of security or safety. Hell, even I felt hunted! There was just so much happening that by the time I was done with The Power of Six I felt absolutely exhausted. Loved it!! And call me crazy, but I’m ready for more. Bring it on!! :D

The Power of Six is the next installment in the Lorien Legacies; and let me tell you, whether or not you’re a fan of alien SciFi, this book will grab you and take you on an adventure the just won’t quit. This book kicks off immediately after the disastrous events that took place in book one; and Sam, Six and Four are not only on the run from the Mogs, but now the FBI is after them for what went down in Paradise Ohio. This loyal trio uses their time on the road to train and try to uncover the secrets to their past that will hopefully help them see a future in Loric. The The Power of Six also introduces the second POV of number Seven as Marina narrates her journey where she’s hiding out in a small Spanish village among the Sisters. Her Cepan Adeline has decided to abandon her responsibilities of training Seven for survival against the Mogs, but that doesn’t stop this determined character of discovering her legacies and trying to locate her inheritance. What unfolds is a series of dangerous encounters between members of the Garde and Mogs and a ton of action that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I will say that I’m disappointed in two characters, including Marina’s Cepan Adeline. It sucked to see this Cepan let number Seven down by giving up on her mission to train and help Marina prepare for survival in this battle. Her change of heart towards the end was a little too late, and I was proud of Seven’s ability to power forward and figure out a way to survive on her own. In addition, what Sarah did to Four I feel was unnecessary. I think it was a convenient plot twist to open the way for Four and Six to explore a possible relationship, which by the way I’m all for. It was great to meet three more members of the Garde, and I can’t wait to discover the final two.

The two major twists in this book really changed the direction of the story as we find not only the two new members of the Garde (Seven and Nine) but also discover there was a second ship the left Loric with number Ten. She’s younger than the others and so far, she’s only revealed one legacy because of her age. Also, we meet the leader to the Mogs, Setrakus Ra that’s just arrived to Earth and sure to bring this war to a whole new level.

Overall, the characters are fierce, the narration is fast paced, and the storyline is by far out.of.this.world! As the previous installment, the ending is cliff hanger painful and despite the constant action and continuous mental energy required to keep up, I can’t wait from the next installment. We’re missing two more Lorien Gardes and I’m eager to meet them. The power this group can combine is going to bring this end game to a collision course of epic proportions. Excitement!